Mountain View Sheep Farm: Creating Products to Help ‘Ewe’

Cameron County | Dark Skies and Elk Country Landscapes of the PA Wilds

Bonnie Troemel began Mountain View Sheep Farm in 2018, but her love for sheep started far before that. She began breeding and raising Shetland sheep back in 2010. She has been using their wool for fiber arts and their milk for soap ever since, now running her farm in Emporium, in the Dark Skies and Elk Country landscapes within the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

Her sheep are more valuable to her than for their wool and milk; they are also like family to her. Troemel has 7 sheep in her herd, as well as a Great Pyrenees dog (appropriately named PaPa) to guard and protect them. Audrey, Anna, Willow, Martha, Penelope, Isabelle, and Petey (the only ram) each have their own unique personality that she just adores. They even have their own little biography on her website so you can learn more about them.

The Shetland sheep is a very prized sheep, and believe it or not they were actually endangered at one point in time. Their wool is superior to other wools and is known for being very strong, yet soft and fine. Troemel uses sheep milk in her soaps due to the extra high protein it contains, delivering more moisture to dry skin. The milk is also much less acidic than other milks, and also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce inflammation associated with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It is also very rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which are all wonderful for making a great bar of soap. Since sheep milk has such skin-hydrating properties, her products are perfect for folks with sensitive skin, especially during the winter months when skin dryness is at its peak. 

Troemel makes more than just soaps though, and her product line has expanded to lotion bars, conditioning shampoo bars, and a felted soap option. She is always creating her own unique scents and puts a lot of research into them. She also pulls from her own experiences and treasured memories. Growing up on a tree farm, Troemel created a scent, ”Christmas Tree Farm,” which brings her right back to the days where she used to wander amongst the trees. 

Her molds are intricate and unique, and some are even carved by an artist in Poland, making each soap bar its own work of art. Her handmade creations are made with love and with the products of her beloved sheep, which customers love and adore. 

You can find Troemel’s products at several locations, including the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce, Benezette Wines, a shop in Harrisburg, and when in season, the Cameron County Farmers market, and other local events. She enjoys connecting people to her products and helping them to get the best benefits possible.

Mountain View Sheep Farm is a Creative Maker within the PA Wilds Cooperative. Learn more about Mountain View Sheep Farm by visiting their PA Wilds Cooperative profile or by searching the directory at members.pawildscenter.org.